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Home , Batman Province, Ishak Pasha Palace, Tushpa

TREASURES OF EASTERN March 26 to April 09, 2022 Led by Dr. Mehreen Chida Razvi, PhD in the History of Art & Archaeology from SOAS, University of London.

Can be combined with our Iraq tour (March 12 -27, 2022) Eastern Turkey is the true cradle of civilization, encompassing the earliest farmers, the great Hittite and Urartian empires of antiquity, the conquering Romans, early Christian churches, and medieval fortresses. Bordering Georgia, , , Iraq, and Syria, this seldom-vis- ited region offers travelers simply incredible sights. See the earliest “temple” at Göbekli Tepe with its 12,000-year-old carvings. Visit Hittite sites with carved reliefs, and inscriptions on the Urartian capital at Tushpa. Explore the Biblical connections of and (where Abraham once lived), and Mount Ararat, claimed to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. Eastern Turkey is a fantastic repository of ancient Roman, biblical, Seljuk, Armenian and Crusader relics. See the magnificent carvings in the Armenian Church on in , and an entire ghostly ruined Armenian city at . And you will not forget the stunningly situated sculptured heads of Nemrut Dag, or Ishak Pasha Palace, the Taj Mahal of Turkey. Ihab Zaki Managing Director, Spiekermann Travel

Saturday, March 26 in eastern Anatolia, built on a high plateau at an altitude of ap- Arrival , Turkey prox. 6,000 feet. As you enter the city, the large monu- ment commemorating the Turkish-Russian War will catch your Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel for check in and over- eye. The city has an immensely rich past and a unique architec- night. (D) tural style. The city walls and fortress are reminiscent of the peri- od of Byzantine rule. Among the remaining Seljuk buildings, the Note: Hotel is available on March 26 at 1:00pm. madrasa is of particular importance. While wandering around Sunday, March 27 the city, notice the local black stone ( Tasi), which is used in jewelry. After seeing some of the sites and on route Istanbul - to we will stop at the 13th century Cobandede Bridge and Depart after breakfast on a full day tour of the old city beginning then continue up the Arras river valley stopping briefly at the with a visit to the Archaeological Museum that houses the sar- First World War memorial at Sarikamis. Upon arrival in Kars, trans- cophagus of , and the Museum of the An- fer to the hotel for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) cient Near East. Continue to Topkapi Palace overlooking the Golden Horn. Transfer to the airport for your evening flight to the Thursday, March 31 Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon, upon arrival meet and transfer Kars - Dogubeyazit to the hotel for check in and overnight. (B,L,D) The city of Kars played an important role in Turkish history; it was Monday, March 28 at the center of the Turkish-Russian War. The Russian legacy can Trabzon still be seen in much of the town’s architecture. The lower city unfolds at the foot of an impressive Seljuk fortress from the 12th In the morning we will have city tour of Trabzon, will begin with century. The Archaeological Museum houses beautiful wood the church of Hagia Sophia now converted to a mosque, beau- carvings, an excellent collection of coins found in the surround- tifully situated in the western suburb outside the city walls and ing region, as well as, many ethnographic items relating to east- overlooking the Black sea and then visit Ataturk Villa overlooking ern Turkey. Visit the ghostly and picturesque remains of Ani, the the Black Sea. Afternoon we will drive to Kuskoy village via Gorele capital of an Armenian kingdom taken over by the Byzantines and and Canakci town. Kuskoy means whistle language. The people sacked by the Mongols in the 13th century. The majestic ruins in the village living upland pastoral life communicate each other with whistle. The village also has been in UNESCO List of Intan- of eight churches and a cathedral, poetically dominate a grassy gible Cultural Heritage in Need of Immediate Protection. We will plateau on the Armenian border. Transfer to the hotel in Dogu- visit the village and meet with local people then drive back to beyazit for check in, dinner & overnight. (B,L,D) Trabzon.Return to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D) Friday, April 01 Tuesday, March 29 Dogubeyazit - Van Trabzon - Erzurum One of the most spectacular sites to visit is the Ishak Pasha Pal- After breakfast, head to nestled in a breath- ace, constructed in the 17th century with a mixture of architec- taking setting as it is built on the face of a cliff. This splendid Chris- tural styles by Ishak Pasha, the Ottoman of the province. tian school that dates back to the 4th century AD is decorated with Byzantine frescoes that reflect the three principles of Byzan- Catch glimpses (weather permitting) of Turkey’s most scenic nat- tine liturgical art. After lunch, transfer to the hotel in Erzurum for ural monument, Mt. Ararat rising to a height of approximately check in and overnight. (B,L,D) 16,695 feet. Along the route to Van, we will stop at the falls at . Upon arrival at the beautiful city of Van on the lake, we Wednesday, March 30 end the day with a visit to the 3,000-year-old Citadel of Van to Erzurum - Kars watch the sun set over the Lake. Transfer to the hotel for check in, Begin your day with a tour in the city of Erzurum, the largest city dinner (their famous local fish) and overnight.(B,L,D) Saturday, April 02 tumulus and colossal statue of Antiochus I of Commagene and his gods. The climb requires a steep hike, or you can hire one of the Van locals with their donkey to take you up a big part of the Mount, after which you’ll still need to walk the last stretch before being Van is an important city set in a verdant oasis at the foot of a rocky reaching the top to see the magnificent view. This ancient funer- peak, and on the shores of Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey. ary monument at the peak of Mt. Nemrut was forgotten and lost Tushpa, an imposing 9th Century B.C. Urartian citadel overlooks for nearly 2,000 years. Transfer to Adiyaman hotel for check in and the new and the old parts of town. From Van we travel south overnight. (B,L,D) along a branch of the (Ipek Yol) to visit Hosap Castle. The main castle structure of Hosap, built straddling the Silk Road it served as both a mean of protecting the road and as a point of Thursday, April 07 charging tolls to travellers. We will drive to Gevas to visit Akdamar Adiyaman - Urfa Island, where we visit the beautifully restored 10th century Arme- nian Church of the Holy Cross, or Sourp Khach, before continu- Drive to Urfa, thought by the locals for thousands of years to be ing to the eastern city of Van. Still very much part of a traditional the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. Upon arrival, we will head lifestyle, the women of Van produce beautiful kilims woven in to visit the on-going archaeological dig at Gobekli Tepe. Although blue, red and white patterns. Return to the hotel for dinner and this site is not widely known but it is one of the most important overnight. (B,L,D) archaeological digs currently being undertaken anywhere - this site represents a major shift in our understanding of man’s ear- Sunday, April 03 ly history. Here lie the remains of the earliest religious structures Van - built by man yet discovered. About 11,000-13,000 years old and pre-dating pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids. In the

Afternoon head to visit the on-going archaeological museum in Leave the high eastern plateau and journey into . En- Urfa and the stunning Halebli Bahce Mosaics. Then head to visit joy the simplicity of life in the many small towns along the way to the Abdurrahman Mosque, and the Pool of Abraham containing Mardin. View Malabadi, a splendid 11th century bridge built by sacred carp fish. Transfer to Sanliurfa hotel for check in, dinner Seljuk Artukids dynasty on one of the tributaries of the River. and overnight. (B,L,D) Tour , the Greek Kiphas, a city located along the Tigris River in Batman province, densely inhabited by . It is an an- Friday, April 08 cient city with roots going back 10,000 years. Transfer to the hotel Urfa - -Istanbul in Mardin for check in, dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Monday, April 04 Early morning drive to Harran near the Syrian border, where Abra- Mardin ham spent few years. Harran is also known for its beehive shaped mud-brick buildings. Then depart to the Gaziantep, where we will You’ll begin your day with a visit to an old theological school, visit the stunning mosaic museum, which houses a priceless col- Sultan Isa Medrese, with spectacular views over the barren des- lection of mosaics from the now sunken city of . We will ert. Tour Kasimiye Medrese with its remarkable architecture and visit the citadel and the Old Town of Gaziantep. Have an early stonework. Visit some of the churches in the town and explore the dinner and then transfer to the airport for your evening flight to shops along the main street. We can visit the Saffron Monastery Istanbul. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel for check in just outside Mardin. Once the principle seat of the Syriac Patriarchy, and overnight. (B,L,D) Saffron Monastery is an active religious community that stands on the site of an ancient Sun Temple, which is dated at about 1,000 BC Saturday, April 09 and can be visited as it is an integral part of the current building’s Istanbul - US foundation. It boasts a unique ceiling that is, in effect, a flat arch. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) Transfer to Istanbul airport for your international flight on Turkish Airlines to JFK, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Washington DC or Los Tuesday, April 05 Angeles, arriving the same day. (B) Mardin - Diyarbakir “We reserve the right to change the order of activities or places Travel to Diyarbakir, located on the shores of the Tigris River. The visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or in order to make basalt walls of Diyarbakir, Roman in origin, are more than 3 miles the itinerary run smoothly” in length and have the distinction of being the longest city walls in the country. You will have the opportunity to visit the Harput Gate; and the Ulu Mosque, another fascinating sight in the city center and one of the oldest mosques in Turkey. Transfer to the hotel for check in, dinner & overnight. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, April 06 Diyarbakir - Nemrut Dag - Adiyaman

Depart and cross the mighty Euphrates, arriving at Nemrut Na- tional Park. We’ll climb to the top of Mt. Nemrut to see the About your Lecturer… Dr. Mehreen Chida Razvi: Earned her BSc and BA from the University of Florida, Trip cost (Land only): Gainesville, before moving to London, England where 4-5 travelers: $5,750.00 she completed an MA in Art History at the Courtauld In- per person sharing in double occupancy stitute of Art, and a second MA and a PhD in the History 6-7 travelers: $5,450.00 of Art & Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. per person sharing in double occupancy She specializes in the history of Islamic art, architecture 8-12 travelers: $4,950.00 and material culture in the early modern era, with a per person sharing in double occupancy particular emphasis on the Persianate regions of Mu- ghal South Asia, Iran and Central Asia. Dr. Chida-Razvi’s Single Supplement: $700.00 primary research examines the history of architecture and the built environment Price based on group size minimum of 4 participants and she has carried out extensive fieldwork and site-research in Pakistan and India. and maximum of 12 participant Another area of particular interest is the cultural and artistic interactions between Europe and the Persianate world and the social and historical circumstances which Trip Grade: II Lodging Level: ***_**** allowed for such connections to take place. Since 2007 Mehreen has given lectures and taught courses on Islamic art and architecture in London and Oxford, and has furthermore been an academic contributor and consultant for a documentary on Taj Mahal.

Tour includes: Tour does not include:

• Domestic flights Istanbul-Trabzon • International air USA-Istanbul / Istanbul-USA. and Gaziantep-Istanbul. • Turkey Visa (can be obtained online - Currently $20.00). • Accommodation at Superior (4*) hotels. • Trip surcharge to operate below required minimum • Local English-speaking licensed guide during the entire tour. participants. • Entrance fees to all mentioned sites as per the itinerary. • Expenses of personal nature: alcoholic beverages, • All meals as mentioned in the itinerary camera fees, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner). • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight • Transportation throughout the trip in an air-conditioned schedule changes. minivan/bus. • Porterage at the hotels. • Mineral Water during the tour. • Travel Insurance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) • Tips to the local guide and the driver.

Trip Grade: II Active –Some hikes, slightly more demanding walks at or to sites, few elevations, comfortable but busy schedule and some long rides and extensive drives.

Lodging Level: *** Superior Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined service and comfort level acceptable to western stan- dards. (3 or 4 stars)

Special Trip Remark: Moderately Vigorous Touring - You will be covering a lot during this journey. The roads are good and the bus very comfortable. Some driving days are long. There will be several restroom stops along the way. It is important to recognize the exhausting nature of some of the long sightsee- ing days as well as some of the site visits where you may have to climb on uneven terrain, steps, rocks and sand as well as up inclines and stairs. Some of the sites involve more strenuous walking (uphill on uneven ground) in order to view the sights. Not easily done if you are not in good physical condition. Be prepared with comfortable shoes. You do have the option of staying with the vehicle if some sites seem difficult for you.

Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. 18421 East Nine Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI 48021 Phone: 1-800-645-3233 Fax: 586-775-9556 www.mideasttrvl.com [email protected]